What's Happening at Ranken Technical College

Spark Plug Challenge

Enter the Spark Plug Challenge with a friend at the upcoming Ranken Car Show on April 15th. 

Sponsored by the Alumni Council this challenge will test your skills at spark plug changing— 4 out and 4 in—the fastest time wins a prize! At the end of the day are you the fastest? Champion trophy will be given during the awards ceremony for the fastest time recorded. Singles, duos and teams are welcome. The cost per timed contest is $1 and all proceeds go toward the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

See you there!

 

A Walker Hall Review

It's been a while since my last entry and I wanted to take some time to get you caught up on life in Walker Hall. We have been busy with classes and fun. Since the weather has given more nice weather, residents have taken advantage to see the St. Louis area and hang out. Residents are hanging in Forest Park, the Delmar Loop and taking in St. Louis Blues Hockey games!

We have had some fun activities from huge Halo games, Brain Teaser Scavenger Hunt, Geek Week, Birthday Celebrations, Civil Rights to Human Rights Movie Week and we to the movies at the Galleria Mall. I always tell residents that life at Walker Hall is what you make it. There is much more fun to come. Check out some pictures of events and my funny residents. Our Facebook page has even more pictures.

Have an awesome day,

LaTrina

Your Dorm Mom

 



2012...A New Start

Happy 2012 to all!

Well, our spring semester has gotten into full swing and things are going well. We currently have 102 residents in Walker Hall. Our residents are working and playing hard. We have tons of new things going on and we are excited!

January was filled with planning, reminders and get to know you sessions. February is filled with diversity programs. Resident Assistant, Kory Wagner is starting the "My Room is Hate Free" Campaign, Resident Assistant, Shelby Snider is teaching tolerance and there will be a Civil Rights to Human Rights Movie Week. We can't forget our goofy events such as The Ramen Rumble (best ramen recipe), Brain Teasers, Valentine Bash (anti V-Day) and Stress Relief.

We have opened applications for the Resident Assistant positions for 2012-2013. There will be information session about these positions.

"Rebuilding Day" Annual Community Service Event

Alumni and students are invited to participate in the national Rebuilding Day sponsored by St. Louis' Rebuilding Together organization. This day of giving back to the community by repairing, rebuilding and upgrading homes of the elderly, handicapped and low income in the St. Louis area will be held on Saturday, May 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Groups all over the country will be joining together to help others on this national day of service. This is the 3rd year for Ranken's involvement in this event and is a fun day supporting a good cause. Only a helping attitude, 25 workers and a house captain are required. Personal tools are a plus! Join us as we assist a homeowner near the Ranken campus and continue support of our neighbors.

Pictures of previous Rebuilding Days can be found at our Flickr Page.

Contact Kathy Fern, (314) 286-4895 or email ktfern@ranken.edu with your interest or questions.

Turkey Time to Winter Time

November was a fun filled month for Walker Hall. Of course, everyone was anxious for the Thanksgiving Break. I have to admit, even I (The Dorm Mom) was also excited. The Walker Hall family filled the time before the break by...having programs! Well, did you think it would be something different?! :-)

There was The Dorm Edition of Minute to Win It, Milk Drinking Contest, Art Creation, Art Exhibition, Book Club, Movie Night, Bible Study, Discussions on racism with a movie and our favorite...our monthly birthday celebration!

Winter time is upon us and there is so much planned before our Winter Break! December 1 we will Deck The Halls of Walker Hall with holiday decorations! Walker Hall residents will also make cards for children in local St. Louis hospitals. In expectation of the new year, a program to assist residents with their new year plan will be presented. A Holiday Movie Marathon will make our season a bit brighter and our holiday party by the Residence Hall Association will give a great send off to residents for their three weeks off.

I can't wait to return and share what we will be doing in 2012!!

Happy Holidays,

Your Dorm Mom

LaTrina Rogers

 

Walker in October

I thought you may have missed the Walker Hall family so I am giving you an update. Since, I last posted, we were in full swing of our September programs. Well, October was no different. There was plenty on the calendar.

The first week of October we observed Mental Health Awareness Month. We did our best to expose the residents to all the options available to maintain their mental health. Our school counselor, Jennie Wilson made herself available, there was an artistic expression workshop with Ranken TRIO staffer, Miranda Myles Jackson who gave her personal time and showed her talent to teach residents how to express their feelings through painting, Residential life staff presented workshops on Depression and Stress Relief. Diane Padgette, licensed yoga instructor and long time student of the Big Bend Yoga Center, donated her time to lead a Yoga for Beginners course. We also showed the movie, A Beautiful Mind.

The remainder of October included our monthly WalMart Wagon for supplies and groceries, Our new Book Club by RHA President, Kory Wagner. The featured book is The Kite Runner. A Chick Flick Night hosted by WOW (Women of Walker), A Halo Tournament, Us on Wii (Wii Gaming Night) and a Microwave Cooking Workshop. Not to mention the excitement of the Cardinal's World Series win!

Halloween Week is huge in Walker Hall. October 23-October 31 will be filled with horror movies, pumpkin carving contest, costume contest, wing decorating contest, door decorating contest and visiting The Darkness. The Darkness is one of St. Louis's scariest haunted houses! The ghost of David Ranken, Jr. even paid a visit to Walker Hall during Halloween week. Check out his picture!

Check out some pics of all the fun!

 

Programs, Football and School...Oh my!

There has been so much going on in Walker Hall. I'm back to give you an update and let you know about some upcoming events!

Residential Life has been busy with programs and activities to provide students with things to do outside the classroom. Walker Hall has had several programs including, Movie Night, Contact Your Track, Who’s Line is it Anyway and of course, Pizza with the President! All were well attended and residents are participating more as the semester pushes along.  Upcoming events include Weekend Warriors (a monthly outing for residents staying on campus during the weekend), A Book Club (led by RHA President, Kory Wagner) and Walker Hall’s favorite…Halloween Week!

Residential Life is also hosting the Intramurals again! Ranken is ready for football! The first games were held on Tuesday, October 20 and the teams were ready to play. Come out and watch some great football every Tuesday and Thursday on the Finney Lawn.

Here are some pictures because Walker Hall loves pictures!!!

 

 
 
  

 
  

 

 
 
 

Taking Shape

Things are taking shape in Walker Hall. Residents are settling in to their schedules, Resident Assistants are about to start their programming, and the Dorm Mom  has made rounds to make sure everyone is doing well.

The Resident Hall Association Has met and officers have been elected for the 2011-2012 school year. This group has great ideas which I will share in my next posting. Here is a picture of our officers. We are really excited about the possibilities!

 
L to R: Michael Spindel (Recorder), Wesley Wieners (Vice President), Kory Wagner (President) John "Tommie" Govero (PR Chair), Robert Harnack (Treasurer)

 
Stay tuned for the new activities this group will have in store for the residents of Walker Hall.

Your Dorm Mom,

LaTrina

The Gang's All Here!

Happy New School Year!

Today is the first day of classes at Ranken Technical College. Walker Hall was busy on Monday and Tuesday with residents moving in and getting settled in their home away from home. We have students from St. Louis to Louisville, Kentucy! This is a group that has been active from the very start. Our veteran residents have taken the role of leadership and showing the newbies how things work in the Walker Hall family.

Everyone is adjusting well and I will be checking with residents this evening about how their first day went. Some were pretty nervous but that is to be expected. I can't wait to share more! I am looking forward to some great memories.

Here are a few pictures of our move-in and hanging out also!

 

 
 
 
 

Walker Hall Preparing for Residents Return

Pictured L-R: Shelby Snider (IT); Devon Frietag (IT), Tom Allen (IT); Dennis Smith (BSAM)

 

Even with most students gone from campus, Walker Hall has remained busy this summer hosting tour groups, College Summit and Kids Across America. Now with summer coming to a close and fall classes beginning tomorrow, Walker Hall has begun preparations for its full-time residents.

The new Resident Assistants (RAs) which include Shelby Snider (IT), Devon Frietag (IT), Dennis Smith (BSAM) and Tom Allen (IT) returned to the dorms this week for preparation and training. The RAs were trained on emergency procedures which included CPR/AED certification and also participated in workshops for mediation, balance of work and school, group programming, ethics and confrontation. This year’s theme is "The Res Life Rock Stars."

When the more than 100 students arrived this week they saw many new changes and upgrades that have been made over break. Outdoor improvements include a new sand volleyball court with new benches and tables and new bbq grills next to the basketball court. There is also a new scanning system in place which allows residents to scan their ID instead of signing in and out on a piece of paper, and a huge theater screen was installed for the resident "Movie Nights."

"We are really excited about this new year and having students back on campus," said LaTrina Rogers, hall manager. "We have a lot of great activities planned and I think we have four really great RAs who will make this a great campus experience for our residents." Some of the programs planned include "Contact Your Track" (an effort to establish study groups), "Whose Line is it Anyway?" (a fun improv event), "Walker Hall Feud", and "Self Defense Tips."

Residential Life will be hosting football and softball intramurals again this fall and all employees and students are eligible to participate in these leagues.

Thank you to the following people who helped on the "Preparation Tour" this summer:

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